In Memory of

Paul

Rembe

Higginbotham

Obituary for Paul Rembe Higginbotham

Paul Rembe Higginbotham, 70, of Roanoke, businessman, entrepreneur, avid outdoorsman, father, grandfather, and a longtime resident of Roanoke, died peacefully on Sunday, June 17, 2018 with his adored wife of 37 years, Martha Ann, at his side.
Paul and four brothers, along with their father, Demah Jacob (D.J.) Higginbotham, built a family business in Roanoke known as Corrugated Container Corporation and helped grow it into a major supplier on the east coast, employing over 200 people throughout four east coast locations. Paul left the family business as Vice President of Sales & Marketing in 2008 due continued health issues. He and Martha Ann relocated to warmer weather in South Texas. Paul and Martha Ann settled back to Roanoke in 2012 to be closer to family.
Paul was born on Thursday, June 19, 1947 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his parents, Demah Jacob (D.J.) Higginbotham and Harriett Higginbotham; as well as his brother, Gerald Jacob Higginbotham. Surviving are his wife, Martha Ann Bowles Higginbotham; daughters, Anne Bowles Carden and husband Herbert Wade Carden, Jr. of Princeton, NJ and Elizabeth Trent Higginbotham of West Palm Beach, FL; grandchildren, Herbert (Hill) Wade Carden III, Virginia Lee Bowles Carden, Peter John (Fort) Fortune Carden and Annabelle Charlotte Carden of Princeton, NJ; brothers, Ronald Higginbotham and wife, Ella, David Higginbotham and wife, Sonja, all of Roanoke, and John Higginbotham and wife, Shelly of Buchanan; as well as many cherished nephews, nieces, cousins and his wife’s loving family.
Paul was a 1965 graduate of Cave Spring High School and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M in 1970, where he was a member of ATO Fraternity. He enjoyed his friendships with his fraternity brothers and greatly enjoyed the time they spent hunting and fishing together.
A long-standing congregant of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Salem, Paul served as vestry person, lay reader and youth advisor. In his younger years, he was a member and past President of St. John’s Lutheran Church, past master of Cave Spring Masonic Lodge #230, a 32nd Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Kazim Masonic Temple. As an avid community participant and leader, Paul was a former Trustee of the Roanoke County Educational Foundation, Lewis- Gale Medical Foundation and a member of various boards including Roanoke College Parent’s Advisory Board.
Paul was a loving, caring, and generous husband, father and grandfather. His legacy lives on through his countless contributions to the Roanoke and Salem communities. The family would like to thank the wonderful nurses in the ICU and PCU at Lewis-Gale Medical Center, where he spent many days over the past several years as well as his caregiver, Autumn Pillis and dear friends, Sandy Jackson and Elaine Hicks. They made his final days comfortable and gave him an outpouring of love and compassion.
A memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Salem at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 21, 2018 with The Very Rev. Robert E. Brodie officiating.A reception is to follow at the conclusion of the service. Online condolences can be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com.